Awning apparatus



Jan. 22, 1935. H, K, SANDELL 1,988,666

AWNING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 s sheets-shed 1 jy QZ?? Jan. 22, 1935. KF SANDELL 1,988,666

AWNING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 22, 1935. H. K. sANDELL AWNING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 49, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATE s initieert OFFICE;

AvvNIlIcr APPARATUS 1 Henry K; Sandell, Chicago, Ill. 'Applieationgrebruarya 1931, serial No. 514,491 wolaims.4 (o1. 15s- 44) This invention relatesin. general to awning apparatus andrnore particularly to awnings and apparatus for manipulating awnings, screens, and the like.

An important object of the invention is to pro vide a power driven or` manipulated awning and such a device of simple and durable construction.

Another important object of the invention is to provide such a device which may be controlled rfrom a remote location, singly and also in banks or Agroups where several such devices are used such as on sections of,.or on entire sides of buildings.

Another important object is to provide a compact power unit which may be readily attached to awnings and the likeand at either one of the ends thereof for manipulating the awning.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the upper portion of a window equipped with awning apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational View of the appa ratus shown in Fig. 1 and viewing the apparatus from the right.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the awning raised or folded and illustrating the action of the control or reversing means.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a preferred form of manipulating unit partly broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5 5 in' Fig. 4 further illustrating the arrangement of the parts of the manipulating unit.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 6 6 in Figg4, illustrating the driving connection between the manipulating unit` and an awning reel.

Figs. A'7, 8, 9 and 10 are changed position views diagrammatically illustrating the functions of a preferred form of reversing switch or control means. n Y

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram showing the various electrical connections, and,

Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of the parts clearly illustrating thepreferred form thereof.

, To illustrate the invention I have shown the upper portion of a window 11 equipped with awning apparatus including an awning 12, an awning frame 1.3 Whh the present embodiment includes a swinging frame land a reel 15, and a manipulating or control unit 16.

The window obviously mayV represent any framedppeningv or' the' like .towhich an awning,

screen, or the like may'beattached.A 5.

The awning 12 may be any fabric or other -covering such as may be used for covering anl opening to exclude light, water, and thelike, and such as may require opening and closing, orlraising and'lowering. In the present embodiment a fabric awning or covering 21 is shown.

The frame 13 includes the swinging frame 14 preferably formed of a rod nrv tube formed to U shape and having its endsl 22 formed to extend through orotherwise pivot in suitable bearing brackets 23 secured to the frame of the framed opening by means ofscrews 24 or in any suitable manner, `and in the present embodiment includes the' reel 15. The reel15 illustrated is a core 24 provided with a shaft 25 which preferably extends through the core 24 and end bearing brackets 26 and 27 in which the reel is rotatably supported. 'Ihe awning or covering 21 is suitably secured to the core 24', of the reel 15: and is folded on or wrapped about the core for raising or folding upon rotation of the core and similarly lowering is effected by reverse rotation 16 includes a'power unit 31 and a control mechanism 32 for controlling the power unit'31.

The power unit 31 includes power means such as an electric'motor 33, a vdrive shaft 34, and transmission elements such as a worm gear 35 suitably securedfto the drive shaft 34 and a Worm 36 similarly secured to a motor shaft 3'7. 'I'he motor 33 is or, maybe -suitably mounted on a bearing bracket 38 which bracketpmay also provideend bearings 41 and 42 for the drive shaft 34. A spacingcollar 43 maybe assembled'on the shaft`34` forv aligning the worm gear 35 between the bearings 41 and 42, (Fig. 6) and these bearings may be formed to provide sockets44 and 45 for receiving lan end of the shaft 25.l

Thedriving connection between the shaft 25 and the drive shaft 34 may be effected in any suitable manner and to accomplish this connection I have shown a tongue or key and slot connection, the ends of the shaft 25being transversely slotted to provide slots 46 and 47 and the ends of the shaft 34 being-formed to provide keys or tongues 48 and 49. The duplicate end formations make-possible the assembly of the manipulating kunit 16 at either one or the other of the ends of the shaft 25 as operating conditions may require.

The control of the power unit 31 in the present embodiment is effected by controlling the electric current supplied to the motor 33. This is accomplished by means of a contact switch 50, a snap switch 51 (Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 11) and a magnet 52. The Snap switch 51 includes a block 40 of insulating material pivotally mounted on a shoulder screw53` having threaded engagement in a boss-54 formed. on` the bracket 38 and carry-v ing oppositely disposed contact strips 55 and 56 together forming a pivoted fork 60, and a cion.

tact strip 57 having its opposite ends bent later-fally to provide contact stops 58 and 59"and suitably mounted on a block 61 of insulating material which is in turn suitably secured to the bracket.

proportions wound on a core 66 and'is arranged to move or lift an armature plate 67. The arma- *ture plate z 67 is Vpreferably a substantially' rectangular plate' (FigQIZ) having a projecting tongueGS'and provided with vlugs 69`by means of which the plate 67 may be pivotally mounted on a lug 71 formed on. the'bra'cketSS'bymeans of a ,pin 72 :extending: throughY the lugs 69 and 71.l

Movementv of the'plate67 is limited'in one direc- .tion'bythe' core 66y offthe magnet .andin the opp'ositefdire'ctionY by al'stop` lug. 73'formed on the bracket 38. f f

Snap .movement of the. pivoted fork 60 is ef 'fectedf by means of "a crank`74,fa pin 75 mounted in the iblock 40, and a tension? spring 76'connectling thecrank 74 and the pin75. The .crank 74 -isro'tatably mounted inv a bearing 77 formed on `material is. attached to a handle portion 82 Vof the crank 79and to .a suitable'fitting, such as an adjustable collar 83, (Figs. 2 and 3') mountedv on yandfsecured to the swinging frame 14. The strand81 through the crank 79 effects a reversal of theoperation of the power unit 31 at one extremityof the range of movement of the awn- Ving and the handle .DO lftion 82 of ythe crank 79 engages the awning" or swinging frame 14 to effect an opposite reversal at the other extremity `as willbe later described.

The contact switch 50 ymay be any suitable de- Vice for makingelectrical contact such as apush button-and is electrically connected to energize the magnet coil 65 of one or more of the manipulat- V-ing units through asuitable circuit such as the Wires 91,92, and 93, (Fig. 11) connected to line wires 94 .and 95. `The line wire 941s also connected to the contact strip 57 and to an armatureV 96' of the/motor 33 and the line wire 95 i'salso connected tothe plate 671through a suitable 'ground connection on the bracket 38.

Y To illustrate the actionV of the fork 60 I have shown the various active positions assumed by the fork in operation (Figs.r7,8, 9 and 10). The fork 60be`ing-set for operating movement ofv the m'joto1`r33u'in one direction (Fig. 7) released and in the corresponding runningposition (Fig. 8),

` set for movementv of the motorin the opposite vtheposition. shown (Fig.' 7) as'above described.

direction (Fig. 9) and released to effect running in the corresponding directiony (Fig. 10).

The opposite ends of a field winding 97, (Fig. 11) of the motor 33 are connected to the contact strips 55 and 56 and the circuit through the winding of the armature 96 is completed through a wire 98 and a flexible contact member 99 suitably mounted on the block Gland arranged to make contact with the plate 67 when said plate is lifted bythe magnet 52. Th'e'jposition of the crank 74 and fork 60 (Fig. 7) corresponds with the lowered position of the awning (Fig. 2) the latingunit 16 is to raise the awning to the position-shown (Fig. 3). The crank 74 and spring 76 are urging the fork 60 toward the left (Fig. When contact is established at the contact Aswitch 50 which obviously may be located in any remote position, the coil 65 is energized which eiects a lifting of the plate 67 to complete the circuit through thefa'rmatu're 96, the wire 98, the 'Contact member 99, and"the"plate^^67, and release the `fork 60. When contactat the switch 50)is broken the plate 67 is released to completev acircuit through the stopy contact 58 of the strip 57,'"1

the contact strip 55, the .eld winding 97, the

.contact strip "56, and the plate 67 as indicated (Fig. 8):. As the awning approaches the end of its elevating or folding movement, the Vswinging frame 14 engages the handle portion 82 ofthe:j crank 79 which is'disposed in the path of movement of the swinging frame 14y and reverses the snap switch or positions the crank 74 to move the^fork`60 into the position shown (Fig. 9) thus opening the previously established connectionsand stopping the motor33. Another contact at the .push button 50` releases the fork 60 to complete similar'running circuits (Fig. l0) except that current" is directed lthrough the field winding 97j in-y an opposite direction thus effectinga '140 reversal lof thel action ofthe manipulating unit 16. At the end of lowering. movements of the awning 12 the strand S1-reverses the snap switch orposition's the'crank 74l to move the fork 60 into The mechanism may beprotected from the velements by? a suitablesheetmetalf cover 1'01.

The manipulating unitA 16 being' compact and relatively small may be readily transported and detachably assembled for use' and at either one ofthe lends ofan awningl in aocordancewith existing conditions and requirements.

It is thought that 'the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made inthe form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacri'cingall of vits material'advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a .preferredV embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1; 'Ihe combination with an awning and frame therefor, of power means detachably connected to said frame,lcircuit closing devices providing a remote control whereby said awning may be adjusted from a remotelocation, and meansv adjusted by the awning frame forV adjusting said circuit closing devices to determine the direction of successive movementsof the awning. y

2. The combination with an awning and frame therefor, ofv power operating means detachably connected to said frame, circuit closing devices providing a remote control4 whereby said awning may be operated from a remoteflocation, and mefao chanical connecting devices whereby said circuit closing devices are adjusted as an incident to movement of the awning frame to determine the direction of successive operating movements thereof.

3. The combination with an awning, of an electrically operable power means arranged for raising and lowering the awning, and means including an automatically operable circuit adjusting device providing a control for said power means whereby the power means may be actuated to elect successive positional adjustments of the awning, the circuit adjusting device being subject to movement of the awning.

4. The combination with an awning and frame therefor, of an electrically operable power means mechanically arranged for adjusting the awning, and means including circuit adjusting devices automatically operable by means of the awning frame and providing a control for said power means whereby the power means may be actuated to cause successive positioning movements of the awning.

5. The combination with an awning and-frame therefor, of power means arranged for raising and lowering the awning, and means associated therewith for controlling and determining the action of said power means, said means including a circuit closing device arranged for adjustment by means of the awning frame.

6. The combination with an awning and frame therefor, of power means arranged for positioning the awning by means of the frame thereof, means associated therewith whereby the power means is supported adjacent and coupled to the awning frame, and means including a circuit adjusting mechanism and a remote control device therefor whereby the awning may be adjusted from a remote location, the circuit adjusting mechanism being associated with the power means and controlled by movement of the awning frame.

7. Awning apparatus comprising, an awning, a frame therefor including a reel, a power operating unit associated with said reel, and means controlled by said frame for controlling the power operating unit and including a remote control device.

8. Awning apparatus comprising, an awning, a frame therefor including a reel, a power operating unit operably connected with said reel, means actuated by the awning for adjusting directional action of said operating unit, and means for releasing said last mentioned means to effect either raising or lowering movement of the awning.

i 9. Awning apparatus comprising, an awning, a frame therefor including a reel carried on a reel shaft, and a power operating mechanism for adjusting said awning including a power element, a drive shaft operably connected therewith and having oppositely disposed driving connections either one of which may be engaged with the reel shaft of said frame, and means for controlling the power element.

10. An awning adjusting device comprising, a motor, a drive shaft adapted for connection to an awning, transmission devices connecting said motor and said drive shaft, control means mounted adjacent said motor and arranged to control the directional action thereof, means adjusted by the awning for limiting the action of said motor and means for mounting the assembly in operative relationship and in engagement with an awning. y

11. An awning adjusting device comprising, a motor, a drive shaft having a plurality of driving connections either one or both of which may be operatively 'connected' with an awning, Vtransmission devices connecting said motor and said drive shaft, a reversing mechanism arranged adjacent said motor and to control the directional action thereof, means adjusted by the awning for limiting the action of said motor and support means for mounting the assembly thereof in operative relationship and in engagement with an awning. y v

12. Awning apparatus comprising, an awning, a frame therefor including a reel, a power operating unit arranged for mounting adjacent the frame reel and having a driving connection therewith, and switch devices mounted with the opvmotor secured to said frame, motor control mechanism arranged adjacent said motor and to control operation thereof in accordance with predetermined positioning movements of the awning, and manually operable release means operatively connected thereto whereby the control mechanism may be adjusted upon occasion to cause adjusting movements of the awning in accordance with the adjustment of said control mechanism.

HENRY K. SANDELL. 

